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An Analysis of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Policies in Relation to Migrants, Sex Workers, and Young and Vulnerable People in Migration‑affected Communities in South Africa

Globally and in South Africa, IOM migration health programming seeks to promote the inclusion of migrants in laws, policies, and programmes at the global, regional, and national levels. Addressing incoherencies in health and non-health policies could reduce the exclusion of vulnerable migrants in services and programmes.

This report highlights findings and recommendations of the policy analysis research that was commissioned by IOM to investigate the degree of coherence among various…

Migration Health 2022 Impact Overview

This report is an annual overview of activities led and implemented by the Migration Health Division of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2022, in close collaboration with Member States, other United Nations agencies, and partners, to respond to major health needs in the context of human mobility, meet operational challenges and advance understanding of migration health, encourage socioeconomic development through migration, and work towards ensuring respect of the human…

Report on refugee health: assessment of the Bulgarian health system’s needs within the context of the crisis in Ukraine

Since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis on 24 February 2022, WHO has supported Government-led efforts and initiatives alongside key partners on the ground. Building on efforts to date, and working alongside Bulgaria’s health authorities to bring added value to existing mechanisms, the WHO Country Office Bulgaria, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the WHO Health and Migration Programme, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Bulgaria and key partners, undertook a joint…

Promoting the health of refugees and migrants: experiences from around the world

This publication is a compendium of 49 country examples highlighting efforts in improving refugees’ and migrants’ health following the adoption of the WHO Global Action Plan on Promoting the health of refugees and migrants at the seventy-second World Health Assembly, in May 2019.

Produced by the WHO Health and Migration Programme based on voluntary submissions from Member States and partners, the report showcases how different countries – with varying health systems and different…

Universal Health Coverage - Leave No Migrant Behind

The realization of universal health coverage (UHC), one that leaves no migrant behind, requires innovative, evidence-based policies and sustainable financial mechanisms that emphasize whole-of society and whole-of-government actions, and involve migrants, including health workers, as co-developers of health services. Being and staying healthy is a fundamental precondition for migrants to be productive and contribute to the social and economic development of communities of origin and…

Access to Information and Health care Services for Vietnamese Migrant Workers Overseas During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global mobility deadlock with nearly all international borders closed for non-essential travel, left migrants in countries of destination acutely vulnerable with risks to health, as well as socioeconomic and social security status, compounded by diverging measures and impacts on mobility.…

Migrants' Rights to Health: A legislative and policy review for Southern Africa, August 2022

This report presents the findings of a desk review undertaken in August 2022 to determine the rights of migrants to access healthcare services - including in relation to occupational health and the health of migrant workers - in the 16 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member States. Building on a previous review of migrants’ rights to health in Southern Africa (2009) this report offers a comprehensive resource outlining the extent to which SADC Member States provide migrants…

IOM Global Annual Report 2021 - Operations and Emergencies

In 2021, the organization’s work on the mobility dimensions of crisis had an operational reach of over 31.7 million people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, migrants, and hosting communities, either directly or as part of community-based programmes. While IOM experienced a lower overall reach than in 2020, the organization’s reach in 2021 was similar to that of pre-pandemic years, with COVID-19 prevention, mitigation, and responses mainstreamed into normal programming…

Migration Health 2021 Impact Overview

This report is an annual overview of activities led and implemented by the Migration Health Division of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in 2021, in close collaboration with the Member States, other United Nations agencies, and partners in the international community, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, meet operational challenges and advance understanding of migration health, encourage socioeconomic development through migration, and work towards ensuring respect of the…

Strengthening health emergency preparedness in cities and urban settings: guidance for national and local authorities

This guidance document aims to support leaders, policy-makers, and decision-makers in both national and local authorities, who work on strengthening health emergency preparedness in cities and urban settings. 

Building on the key aspects that authorities should consider it proposes possible actions and approaches, that when adapted to different local contexts, will contribute to enhanced prevention, preparedness, and readiness for health emergencies in cities and urban settings for a…